Cover-locking mechanism for cylinder washing-machines.



W. BARTHOLOMEW. COVER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CYLINDER WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. I9I2.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1912.

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WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG IQ'OR T0 TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LTD., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COVER-LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CYLINDER WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent Application filed May 27, 1912. Serial No. 700,091.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism including bolts for the door of a revolving cylinder of a washing machine within which the bolts will be positively retained in both locked and unlocked positions; which will prevent the door being closed unless the bolts are in their unlocked positions; and in which the wear of the bolts incident to theirusage may be readily compensated for, thereby insuring the tight locking of. the door.

A furthei object of my invention is to provide the door of the revolving cylinder of a washing machine with a strong and durable support for the latching mechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide the door of a receptacle with latching mechanism and means for supporting the same, which will be durable in use, and thereby increase the efliciency of the receptacle.

My invention will be more fully disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which- I Figure 1 is a plan view of one application of my locking mechanism as applied to a door of a washing machine.

Fig. 2, a cross sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3, an enlarged plan view of the locking mechanism at one side of the door in locked position;

Fig. 4:, a sectional view on line 4 4, Fig. 3,- the bolt being shown in locked engagement with its keeper;

Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the bait in unlocked position;,

Fig. 6, a side elevational view of the lever for operating one of the bolts and-the adjacent portion of the bolt;

liig. 7, a sectional view on line 7 7, Fig. 5; an

Fig. 8, a. sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. 5. v The same reference characters are used to designate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Supported within the channel of the metallic stave ,E are the locking mechanisms or bolts for retaining the door in closed ,position. G and G designate the reciprocating bolts of the locking mechanisms embodying my invention, each bolt being guided in a casing so as to reciprocate within supports F and F respectively, fitting within the end portions of the channel of the casing which in this instance is the stave E preferably formed of metal. Each of the bolts G and G is preferably a hollow casting having formed therein a vertical opening or slot and an inner vertical wall G closing the inner end of the slot from therear of which extends a guide rod. 9 projecting through a block H removably secured to the inner end portion f ofthe respective bolt support F or F. A spring H surrounds the rod g of each bolt and is interposed between the vertical wall G. and the guiding block H, so that the tension of the spring tends to move the bolt outwardlyand to force the same when the door is .closed, into engagement with. keepers M and M v secured upon the peripheries of the cylinder heads. As clearly shown in the drawings, the ends of the bolts are tapered both in plan and elevation and adapted to engage within correspondingly tapered sockets in the keepers, so that the wear on the bolts incident to their usage will not prevent the tight engagement of the bolts with their keepers, as such wear is compensated by the tapered bolt end and correspondingly tapered socket.

Located transversely within an opening in each of the bolt casings or supports F and F is" a rock shaft K mounted to oscillate upon a rod 70, as clearly shown in ig 7. Each rock shaft K is provided with a radial cam K adapted to engage'the end wall G or the scent latch or bolt, and thereby force Patented Dec. it, 1935.

the latch inwardly against the tension of its actuating spring H. ln order to oscillate each oi? the shafts K, a pair of levers L" and L project radially therefrom and are connected at their outerfends by a handle Lugs Z and Z project outwardly from the levers L and L", and when the levers are in the position shown in Fig. 6, to permit the bolt to engage its keeper, such lugs lie in the path of lugs g and 9 respectively, projecting outwardly from the opposite sides of the corresponding bolt, so that the bolt cannot be moved inwardly out of engagement with its keeper while the handle is in its lower position. Each handle is retained in. its lowered position through the engagement of a small cam is on the cam K with a spring N secured to the bottom oithe casing or stave E and projecting upwardly within the opening in the bolt support F or F and within the opening in the corresponding bolt G or G if desired the portion of the metal casing or stave E between the two compartments containing the locking mechanisms of the door is provided with perforations e so as to permit the water to pass through this stave as well as through the holes b in the other staves of the cylinder, it being understood that in the use of a washing machine of this character the-water passes into and out of the revolving cylinder during each rotation within its inclosing casing. a

The operation of my improvement is as follows: ll] hen the bolts are in unlocked position, the handles L occupy the vertical position indicated at the right or l. and in Fig. 5. The cam K on each roc shaft K engages the inner surface of the wall of the corresponding bolt G, and thereby retains the actuating spring under compression and holds the corresponding belt out of engagement with its keeper. It will be observed that the cam l in this position of the handle lies below the axis of reciprocation o"= the bolt, so that the bolt is securely retained in its unlocked position. Moreover, the spring N through j its engagement with the small cam is retains the rock shaft in this position and also prevents the rattling oi" the rock shaft and cooperating parts. -When the door is closed the handles are swung outwardly toward the sides oi the cylinder, so that/they occupythe position shown Figs. 3, 4- and 6. Such movement of each handle L oscillates the corresponding cam K to a vertical position out of contact with the wallGoi-t the latch, and permits the spring H to force the bolt into the socket within its keeper,

. thereby securely locking the cover in closed position. The lugs Z and Z on each pair levers L and L lie in the pa hs of corresponding lugsg' g ed3a= aneaseo cent bolt so that the bolt cannot be withdrawn from its keeper against the tension of the spring while the handle is in its lower position. The handle is retained in such position through the engagement of the spring N with the small cam k on the corre sponding rock shalt K, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. ihe cam K, when the bolt is in locked engagement with its keeper, is a slight distance awaytrom the wall G of the bolt so as to not interfere with the tight engagement of the bolt with its keeper when through wear. it extends farther into its keeper than it did initially The spring H, therefore, serves to insure the tight engagement of the bolt with its keeper at all times,

as will be evident from Fig. t.

Should either of the springs H become broken or set, and it therefore should be desirable to provide a new spring, this may be readily done by removing the corresponding block H by withdrawing the screws it from engagement with the underlying portion f of the corresponding bolt support.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that it is necessary for the bolts to b first retracted in order that the door may be closed. Consequently the wear upon the bolts and, their keepers which would occur if the bolts were automatically forced inwardly through engagement with their keepers, is avoided. It will also be observed that the bolts are securely retained both in locked and unlocked positions, thereby obviating any danger of the door becoming accidentally opened, and also any danger-oi the bolts accidentally being projected outwardly while the cover is open. it will also be evident that by providing the metal stave upon which the locking mechanisms are supported, the structural strength of the door is not weakened by the recesses within which the locking mechanisms are located. The handles L when oscillated to vertical positions incident to withdrawing the bolts, serve as convenient handles for lifting the cover to open position.

While 1 have described more orsless in detail the specific form in which I have illustrated my invention as embodied, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting mys elf thereto, as l contemplate changes in term, proportion ot parts, and substitution, of equivalents, as circumstances may require, or as may be deemed expedienh.

I claim:

l. Latching mechanism for a door com-.

prising in combination a reciprocating bolt, a rock shatt, a cam on said shaft for unlocking the bolt and retaining it 'in' unlocked position, a spring for moving the 2. A bolt for a door and the like having a tapered end, a keeper having a socket to receive said bolt and tapered to correspond therewith, a spring for reciprocating said bolt into engagement with the keeper, and

means out of contact-With said bolt When.

in its locked position for engaging said bolt and reciprocating the same against the tension of said spring in alinement with the axial movement of the bolt into unlocked 10 position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WILLiAM BARTHOLOMEW.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. PARKS, E. M. ANDERSON. 

